I'M A SIGHT TO SEE, RAINBOW COLORS IN MY HAIR.

New York was everything Tina had expected it to be and more. What really was the icing on the cake though was getting to share the experience with Finn, someone she had quickly fallen for and had never expected to return the feeling. Someone she could see herself having a future with, or whom she had envisioned one with months ago... so much that it seemed /real/. She wasn't exactly sure how a sixteen year old boy from Lima managed to save as much money as it seemed he had; from prom and now a fancy dinner right in the Big Apple, it was almost unbelievable. Perhaps he had a second job she was unaware of? Not that she was complaining with the way he pampered her like a princess. The mood was romantic as they enjoyed their meal on a quiet patio - one overlooking a stretch of water and close enough that the Statue of Liberty was just peeking in their visibility. The moon cast over the ripples of dark water and reflected on his eyes, causing Tina to smile as she swam in them for a moment before scooping up a small bite of the lavish dessert they'd decided to share. "Oh my gosh... this is /so/ good. Like my dream dessert," she raved, licking a tiny bit of ice cream from her lips. "You really know how to pick 'em." It was a decadence she'd never tasted before but something about it was so... familiar. "Thank you for this lovely date, Finn. I'm so psyched up for nationals and this really takes the edge off everything. How are you feeling about it all?"

Coming to New York, Finn had something special up his sleeve for Tina. First and foremost of course was nationals, and the fact that the New Directions had a real, legitimate shot at winning a national championship this year. Hey, he wasn't going to kiss Rachel on stage, who knew? But just as important to him was getting to go out on a real New York date with his girlfriend, and it was going to be at a place that they'd visited before... or in the future, depending on your viewpoint. The patio view was nothing short of sensational, and for at least a little while it didn't even feel like they were in high school... it felt like they were back in the future again. Watching Tina take a scoop of dessert from across the table, Finn smiled at her. "I had a feeling you'd like it, Tee." Leaning across to brush his fingertips over her free hand gently, he nodded. "I really do know how to pick 'em. Desserts... and girls." Giving her hand a squeeze now, "I'm glad you're feeling better, we're going to be perfect and then we'll win it all." He was positive, overly positive about it all this time around- this was their chance to do it all over again with better results. "What kind of a leader would I be if I didn't believe in us?" He grinned again, watching her take another bite. "So you really like this dessert?" Having watched her devour it several times before in their life before the storm, he knew it to be a favorite of hers.

Although she had been incredibly nervous (along with excited) about Nationals, this dinner with Finn was completely taking the edge off. The place he had chosen was amazing, and with a perfect view... one she felt as though she'd gazed upon before, even if it was her first trip to New York. Trying to shake the thought away, Tina focused on her amazing dessert and amazing boyfriend, and just being here with him. It was incredibly special that they could share this trip together, and as she moaned about the decadence that was her dessert and praised Finn for his selection, his answer brought a blush to her cheeks. "You know me so well... and I guess you do. I'm glad you're satisfied with your decisions," she added with a little smirk as she delved into another bite. Finn's fingertips ghosted along the back of her hand brought about goosebumps, and as his touch squeezed hers, her own squeezed right back, spoon finally set aside as she finished off her half. "Good point, and you're the best leader we could ever have... I'm really proud of you, I hope you know. And yes, I think the proof is on the plate at how much I loved it. Best dessert ever." Biting her lip for a moment, Tina tried to force back words she had been dying to say-- they may have seemed premature with their short relationship, but she couldn't fight them. "I don't want to scare you," she leaned in closely. "But I love you Finn. I know it seems quick, but I know what love is, and it's the way I feel about you. Like... we're tethered, or something." Half afraid of what his response might be, she deftly cradled his face and pressed her lips to his earnestly, heart racing so hard it might explode as she worried that maybe she'd said too much. But as their lips touched and she said those three words, something bewildering and magical happened.

Finn felt like taking Tina out to dinner here in the city might mean more to her if it was a place she'd enjoyed once before, even if it was a visit she'd never have remembered. Everyone's nerves were running high over nationals, and not all of the group had the benefit of having been here before in the same circumstances. Well, nearly the same circumstances. Sitting across from her and watching her enjoy the dessert before her, it brought Finn back to when they'd visited the city on their own, and how in love he knew he was with her then. It was all he could do to not admit it to her right now, even after she'd praised his choice of food. Hand reaching out to take her own, she got quiet as she leaned in towards him, biting her lip in the cutest way possible and whispering that she didn't want to scare him, but that she loved him. Finn's eyes widened, soft as she explained the way she felt, and it was entirely the same way he felt about her. Before he could respond she began to kiss him, her hands on either side of his face as she tenderly pressed her lips to his. So caught up in the moment, Finn relaxed into it and kissed back, letting a hand raise to the back of Tina's neck, lightly rubbing his thumb against her skin as it tangled against brunette locks. Sighing as he pulled back eventually, he stared dreamily into the darkest eyes he'd ever seen. "Mmm, I love you too, Tina. And I've waited a while to be able to say it, but everything you just said... it's totally true."

Tina was afraid that Finn might freak out at her confession, but she instead felt his soft lips on hers pressing back, his fingertips dancing along her neck, the electric touch causing goosebumps to form and shocks down her spine. And as they entwined within her dark tresses, she let a muffled moan escape as her own hands held his face that much closer. She wasn't sure how it happened, or if there'd ever be a way to explain it to Finn without him thinking she was crazy but with this connection came a flood of memories, as if her kiss and "I love you" was part of a Disney movie that suddenly made everything right again. They had been here before, to this same restaurant; the view and dessert all seemed so familiar, and now she knew why-- it /was/. The football scenario suddenly made sense; it hadn't been a dream, but a flashback of being tackled the first time. But this second chance, Finn saved her... did he know? Did he remember too? Glancing down at her teenage clothes, an adult Tina gave a quiet laugh, letting fingertips slide over the faux leather of her skirt. "Finn..." her voice cracked as she tried to piece together what had happened - why suddenly she'd been stuck back years before, and still was - but how her thirties self was now back, with memories of both lives still fresh in her mind. What was she to do now? She... couldn't work, since in their current reality she was only sixteen but was she really supposed to just live her life over again? As much as she loved her current relationship with Finn, she didn't want to lose the past one either (or future, rather); they had been so close to building a life together, what if changing things in the past messed up their future? Suddenly she was becoming a little worried, but she hadn't spoken for a while since Finn had promised he loved her back; she had to know... maybe if they both remembered they could just... find a way to make sure the now kept their future together. Not everything had to be the same; so long as she was with Finn, Tina knew she'd be happy. Amidst it all, they'd still found each other. "Sorry," she blinked a few times before taking Finn's hand, a soft smile lifting her lips. "I have something crazy to say but please just hear me out." Nibbling at her lower lip gently, her eyes met his lighter ones. "I remember... I remember everything... being here before, you saving me in football. How we reunited in Texas and everything in between.I remember thinking you might propose to me soon, and hoping, too." Pausing, she added plead-fully. "Something just... switched on. I don't know... if you know what I'm talking about, but I really, really hope..." tears welled up in her eyes now as she forced back a sob, worried that he had no idea what she meant, "That you do."

Listening to Tina's confession and the hesitation in her voice only made Finn feel that much more strongly about her. Figuring it was better to show her how he felt instead, he kissed her back, weaving his fingers into her hair and gently caressing the nape of her neck. Something changed with her at that point, she became more relaxed as she cupped his face, and after they pulled apart slowly Finn made sure to agree to with everything she said. And as he looked at her face, she gave a quiet laugh before eyes glanced down and then back up at him. When she spoke, it blew Finn away. She sounded like his Tina, the one who he'd been ready to propose to in the future, not the seventeen year old version of her. He smiled as she took hold of his hand, and after asking him to let her finish, jaw widened slightly and Finn sat and listened as Tina told him that she remembered. Everything. Everything they had been through, the life they'd made for themselves in Texas... she was back. Gasping at her thought that something had simply "switched on", he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers as hands slipped to cover both of her cheeks, wiping the tears at corners of her eyes away. "I do. I do, babe." Kissing her lips with a quick peck, he could feel the hint of a smile on her lips before he pulled back again. "I've known ever since I woke up back here in junior year. You don't know how many times I wanted to tell you, wanted to try and remind you... Tina, you really remember everything?" A mixture of disbelief and joy was rushing through him as he pulled closer to her, eager to take her in his arms. "When you had that sense of deja-vu with the football game, and kissed me... god, I was so relieved, even if it was only a little bit. I've missed you so much..." Lifting a hand to sweep away strands of hair and keeping his eyes focused only on hers as they shimmered, "And if you're back, I mean you're really back, then you're making me the happiest guy in the world now." Breathing a sigh of relief, he kissed her again, eagerly and with more hunger this time, nibbling on her lower lip for just a moment. "And for the record, I was going to propose to you. I still have every intention of it... though for right now we've got nationals to win." Keeping his forehead placed against hers, "How are you feeling about this? I know it's a lot to deal with all at once... I know that all too well."

Their kiss was electrifying, and Tee eased into it as everything rushed back; she felt like the main character of a movie where they'd had amnesia and it were randomly, magically, restored. Tina knew she was going out on a limb here to try and explain what had just happened here, especially since she had no explanation herself. Just a few moments before she was a teenager, ready to perform at Nationals and on her very first trip to the Big Apple. But now, now she was a bit older, and seriously dating the same guy, only... expecting a ring and marriage proposal and future together. The dessert she'd just devoured and restaurant both specialties Finn had let her indulge in the few times they'd ventured there from Texas; she just had to know though if this was a dream or just some really messed up alternate reality. Not that it was bad; she still had Finn, but reliving high school days wasn't something she'd really ever hoped to do. Tentatively she tried to explain to Finn, her chocolate eyes searching his as she spurted off many of their shared memories - hoping he knew them all too. The smile that stretched across his lips had her mirroring the same, fingers lacing tightly between her boyfriend's and squeezing tightly once he assured her it was all in his memory. Gasping a little as their foreheads leaned unto one another and Finn's fingers caressed her cheeks, wiping away the tears that lightly trickled down them, Tina began to smile again. He explained how he had awoken in this verse, confused and with the desire to tell her about it all, sincere words bringing her to a teary grin now as she gave a tiny nod. "I do, I remember it all," she promised at his ask, fingertips now fiddling with the hair along the nape of his neck. "I did-- that was the first little moment I had, but nothing had every come back as strongly as now... but I'm so glad I did; I don't care what... stage of my life I'm in, I just want you by my side." Sighing softly as he pushed away strands of her hair and deemed himself the luckiest, Tee didn't have time to reciprocate before his lips were on hers; much more ardently than before she pressed back, humming a little at his nibbling as her hands twisted within his hair. She didn't care that they were at dinner; all she cared about was that her life was back... even if the timing still wasn't. Breathless as they finally parted, Tina licked her lips and kept him close, their breaths mingling with one another. She beamed at Finn as he confessed that he was going to propose to her; nudging his nose lovingly she gazed back into his eyes, carefully thinking over his question. "We're /definitely/ going to win Nationals... no stage kiss unless it involves me." Her tone grew a bit more serious though as she reflected on his question. "I feel confused and relieved... overwhelmed... but at least I'm with you, and that's the most important thing." Biting her lip, Tina sealed her words with another kiss. "I don't know if we'll have to rewrite the future or try and find a time machine to get back there," she tried to lighten this disorienting situation a little. "But so long as you're in every chapter of my life from now on, that's really all I need. I'll just count it as that much more time to be spent with you."